The effect of D phase polyamide (PA6)on the rheological properties, Young Modulus and the thermal expansion coefficient of two blends groups (bitumen-polyamide) were tested. The first group was for bitumen-PA6 blends and the second group for bitumen blended with polymer resulted from the crystallization of PA6-formic acid solution in water(PAFW).The obtained results proved that adding both types of polyamide has led to a rise in toughness and softening point temperature while the penetration Index approached -3 after adding the polyamide. So, all these changes make bitumen-polyamide blends more suitable for use in hot climate regions. The blends properties were explained according to the reaction that takes place between the polyamide and the epoxy present in the bitumen at temperatures exceeding 200 ° C. However, these changes were more pronounced for mixtures that contained PAFW due to their porous morphological structure, which increased the reaction and made the blends more miscibility even when the addition ratio reached to4%. In the case of PA6, when its ratio in bitumen increased by more than 1%, the unreacted portion of this polymer with epoxy would be mere filler in the mixtures and it did not appear to have a pronounced effect on the properties of bitumen.
This study examines the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and motivation for sports achieve-ment among youth badminton players. The research aims to identify how personality traits influence athletes’ drive for success and tendency to avoid failure, ultimately shaping their competitive performance. The hypothe-sis envisioned using a descriptive-correlational design to collect data from 51 players based on the use of vali-dated psychological scales such as Big Five Personality Traits Scale and Sports Achievement Motivation Scale. Personality traits were assessed on their effect on achievement motivation using statistical analyses such as Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and ANOVA. The relation between extraversi
... Show MoreSweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an economically important vegetable crop. Wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici is a specific pathogen that affects the pepper. Four isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. capsici Fo3, Fo6, Fo7 and Fo8 were obtained from diseased pepper plants that were collected from different pepper fields in Baghdad. Fo6 isolate that has high pathogenicity to pepper seeds, Trichoderma harzianum (Th) was tested in vitro against F. oxysporum f. sp. capsici showed a high inhibition rate for the isolate Fo6, the concentration of chelated iron Fe-EDDHA 0.5% reduced the radial growth of Fo6 whi
... Show MoreHuman identification is crucial in forensics for the investigation of large-scale disasters such as fires, epidemics, earthquakes, and tsunamis. Even though biometric identification using panoramic dental radiography (PDR) has been the subject of several studies in the literature, further study remains a necessary and challenging issue. In this research, a human identification system was developed based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) and contour transform (CT). The proposed system was implemented on a total of 1540 PDR from 302 individuals. The preprocessing applied to PDRs for enhancing and taking the Region of Interest (ROI). The features were extracted using CT transform. These features were fused with features extracted
... Show MoreThis chapter explores artificial intelligence (AI) auditing and its role in enhancing customer experience and building trust, reliability, and credibility in the digital marketing environment. It emphasizes the adoption and implementation of practices by global and international auditing firms such as Deloitte, PwC, Ernst & Young, and KPMG. The chapter employs a systematic review of academic literature and professional reports, analyzing studies related to AI applications in customer experience, algorithmic auditing practices, and AI governance frameworks. However, the chapter's findings reveal a research gap: the limited integration of AI auditing and customer experience in current literature. The chapter concludes by proposing
... Show MoreSoils encounter cyclic loading conditions in situ, for example during the earthquakes and in the construction sequences of pavements. Investigations on the local scale displacements of the soil grain and their failure patterns under the cyclic loading conditions are relatively scarce in the literature. In this study, the local displacement fields of a dense sand layer interacting with a rigid footing under the plane-strain condition are examined using both experiments and simulations. Three commonly used types of cyclic loading conditions were applied on the footing. Digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) is used to measure the local scale displacement fields in the soil, and to understand the ev
Objectives: This study investigates the U.S.-China competition in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on its implications for both countries’ military strategies. It also offers a forward-looking assessment of how this rivalry may influence international security and geopolitical stability. Methods: The research adopts an integrative theoretical framework combining realism—which emphasizes military power and strategic dominance—and technological innovation theory, which highlights the role of emerging technologies in global power shifts. A descriptive and analytical approach is employed, synthesizing academic literature, policy reports, and strategic documents from 2010 to 2030. Results: The U.S.-China AI compe
... Show More5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, but its hepatotoxic potential poses clinical challenges, as it induces oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in liver tissue. Butein, a natural chalcone flavonoid that possesses varied biological activity, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiplatelet effects. This study aimed to evaluate the possible protective effects of Butein against 5-FU-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Male albino rats were divided into 4 Groups (of 7 animals each): control, 5-FU, and two Butein-pretreated Groups (50 and 100 mg/kg/day, orally for 14 days) each before a single intraperitoneal dose of 150 mg/kg 5-FU, which was injected on day 14. Serum liver enzymes (ALT and AST), cytokines
... Show MoreAbstract Background: Timely diagnosis of periodontal disease is crucial for restoring healthy periodontal tissue and improving patients’ prognosis. There is a growing interest in using salivary biomarkers as a noninvasive screening tool for periodontal disease. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of two salivary biomarkers, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total protein, for periodontal disease by assessing their sensitivity in relation to clinical periodontal parameters. Furthermore, the study aimed to explore the impact of systemic disease, age, and sex on the accuracy of these biomarkers in the diagnosis of periodontal health. Materials and methods: A total of 145 participants were categorized into three groups based
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